HT Games
Memory and Skill
Choose games that promote both military education and basic skill development. These can be as simple as memory cards with a military theme, in which tanks, ships, planes and other items are matched. There are a number of quizzes and puzzles that test a child's knowledge of military terminology, ranks and insignia.
Children enjoy learning and applying Morse code or military alphabets. They may send messages to one another in these formats or pretend they are on an emergency radio. Teaching kids to read maps, use compasses and respond effectively to prompts all build skill and concentration.
Role Playing
Guide children in role playing. Military games can be structured, such as playing dress-up in miniuniforms, impersonating generic or specific military figures or historical battle re-enactments. Children often enjoy creating personalized military name tags and identification badges, or pinning medals on one another. Encourage kids to stage marches and practice stepping in time to the beat of one, two, three, four. Invent new lyrics to classic military chants or songs.
Children use model toy soldiers to engage in unstructured play. They may arrange battalions for play combat or build obstacle courses through which soldiers must pass.
Board Games and Outdoor Games
"Risk" is an advanced strategic game in which countries are randomly assigned to players who attack and claim new territories with acquired military units. "Risk" needs more than two players.
"Battleship" is a game in which two players place battleships on hidden boards and take turns guessing co-ordinates. A successful guess is a hit on a ship and hits cause ships to sink.
Create a "boot camp" obstacle course for children that is not too challenging or difficult. Make it safe. Children can jump through spare tires, crawl through open ended canvas tubes, climb ropes, run around pylons or markers in a limited timed frame and perform "training" calisthenics. Or, give kids a bunch of crafts and have them make "camouflage" outfits to play hide and go seek outside. This encourages natural and environmental awareness, creative production and is noncompetitive.
Reinvent old games like Capture the Flag or Simon Says with a military theme. Give children opportunities to co-operate by assigning them "safe missions" such as recovering a hidden newspaper or bringing all the family pets inside gently. Kids appreciate the chance to solve problems uniquely and work together. For the mission, give kids tools to share. Have them report back to you.